Any advantage to checking in early?

[taaren]

In a split stay, is there any advantage to checking in before heading to the park for the day vs just sending your luggage and heading over after? Specifically, if you physically check in early in the day and get your keys is there a better chance of getting one's requests met? (ie Checking in at 8a vs 4p)

We're staying one night at OKW, a last minute add since we're flying in one night earlier than previously arranged just to use ME that night and be close to the parks in the morning. We'll be spending the rest of the week in a 2 bedroom at BLT, and I'm hoping for a north facing room on a high floor, and would like to do whatever I can to get a good view for that room.

Does it make sense for me to head from OKW to BLT and wake up an hour earlier to check in and try to re-ask for my requests (they've been noted w MS upon booking) before heading to Animal Kingdom park for our character breakfast? (We won't have a car so that would be also 3 buses or a bus and a taxi also.)
I don't care about having access to my luggage until 4p or later on BLT check in day, so don't want to move it myself.

Or am just as likely to get my requests by sleeping in and just doing online check in, then heading straight for AK and checking in after spending the day in the park? (Being six time zones behind, really hoping for more sleep...)

 

[wdrl]

In a split stay, is there any advantage to checking in before heading to the park for the day vs just sending your luggage and heading over after? Specifically, if you physically check in early in the day and get your keys is there a better chance of getting one's requests met? (ie Checking in at 8a vs 4p)

We're staying one night at OKW, a last minute add since we're flying in one night earlier than previously arranged just to use ME that night and be close to the parks in the morning. We'll be spending the rest of the week in a 2 bedroom at BLT, and I'm hoping for a north facing room on a high floor, and would like to do whatever I can to get a good view for that room.

Does it make sense for me to head from OKW to BLT and wake up an hour earlier to check in and try to re-ask for my requests (they've been noted w MS upon booking) before heading to Animal Kingdom park for our character breakfast? (We won't have a car so that would be also 3 buses or a bus and a taxi also.)
I don't care about having access to my luggage until 4p or later on BLT check in day, so don't want to move it myself.

Or am just as likely to get my requests by sleeping in and just doing online check in? (Being six time zones behind, really hoping for more sleep...)

In your specific case, I would say its not worth it. If there are no vacant 2-bedroom villas on the north wing on your check-in day, then you are out of luck no matter what time you check in.

Instead of doing a breakfast at Animal Kingdom's Tusker House on your check in day, could you change it to a character breakfast at Crystal Palace? At least you would be at MK and next to BLT, which would cut down on your transportation issues. If you were already at MK, then going to BLT to do early check-in would be a lot easier.

 

[com_op_2000]

The two times I have done split stays, I have gone over to check-in from 07:00 to 07:30. Both times the rooms were ready, cause they were not in use the night before. I got the rooms right then and we moved when we were ready.

 

[patsal]

I've done s[;it stays and have tried both ways. The one that works seemlessly is leaving the resort I am in at 11 am or earlier, checking luggage there and going on with my day as if I had a room, between 4 and 7 I go to the new resort and check in, room has always been ready and it goes seemlessly without losing valuable time waiting around. If you have a car you can skip the leave luggage with resort step.

 

[MrShiny]

I lately have done this on split stays:

1) one person (usually me) gets up early and goes to the new resort. In your case, this would mean a bus to MK and walk (or monorail) to BLT. By checking in early, I get a room if it was vacant or if not, at least avoid lines when the DME busses start coming in.

2) The others check the bags with bell services and then go to a park.

As mentioned, it is easier if you were to go to MK, but you could just take the bus from MK to AK. In any case, you might want to switch to MK later in the day and then go to your room. if it wasn't ready in the morning, it'll be ready after 4.

 

[DizBub]

I like to check in fairly early just in case my requests haven't been honored. If you get there late you are pretty much stuck with whatever is left.

 

[taaren]

I like to check in fairly early just in case my requests haven't been honored. If you get there late you are pretty much stuck with whatever is left.

Yep, this is what I'm afraid of.

In your specific case, I would say its not worth it. If there are no vacant 2-bedroom villas on the north wing on your check-in day, then you are out of luck no matter what time you check in.

Instead of doing a breakfast at Animal Kingdom's Tusker House on your check in day, could you change it to a character breakfast at Crystal Palace? At least you would be at MK and next to BLT, which would cut down on your transportation issues. If you were already at MK, then going to BLT to do early check-in would be a lot easier.

The day we arrive at BLT is the taping of the Xmas Parade, plus we already have Pirate's League reservations on the 2nd day of that stay, or I'd switch.

I'm not sure if because its DVC busy season (first day of December Adventure season) if a lot of people will be checking in/out or if we won't be able to get a nice view because all the rooms are booked 100% and nobody is moving). I'm 90% sure our room won't be ready at 7am (which will be 1a by my Hawaiian body clock). Oh well. I'll probably sleep in and get whatever I get view-wise. Mainly I'm wanting to see the Electrical Water Parade anyways. I've just seen a lot of reports of people being on the inside of the "C" and looking straight into other people's rooms, which I'm hoping to avoid.

Thanks for the advice all!

 

[GordonD]

deleted - wrong catagory